When did this start being normal?

Tropez

ecoelle wrote: »

Does anyone else think that children may have problems with their handwriting *because* of using computers? Rather than seeing them as a help they might be what is holding them back. It's ok to say that they need ICT skills these days and i agree, but, all exams except ICT and possibly some technology classes require handwritten responses, plus filling in job applications. If children spent as much time practising their handwriting as they do playing games on computers do you think that maybe they would be better at writing?

Don't get me wrong there are some pieces of technology which i think are great and have their uses, but to be buying products like laptops games consoles for kids of 9 and putting them into their rooms you are just asking for your kids to become isolated. I saw a friend and her daughter communicating on their walls on a social network site the other day over what their days had been like, fine if they weren't in the same place but they were only in different rooms of the same house, i find it bizarre

I had a computer and a television in my room when I was young - but I was never allowed a games console - and I can't honestly say it had any negative effect on me. I was captain of several school sports teams, very outgoing and involved in several after school clubs and activities. I wasn't isolated in any way and I still believe the advantage I got from having access to a computer and the chance that I was given to practice and enhance computer skills, firmly supported by my parents, has benefitted me no end.

I also never had any problems with hand writing because of all of the other lessons on the curriculum in which everything, bar a set number of assignments, were hand written.

Savvy_Sue

delain wrote: »

Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this is madness?

You are not the only one who thinks this is madness! Although I would struggle to count how many computers we have in the house now ... but if you want your own, you buy it yourself!

mintymoneysaver

I think it's ridiculous. My daughters are now 16 and 13. They got a TV in one bedroom when eldest was 11, but it was never tuned in so they could only watch DVDs on it! Eldest finally got a 'proper' telly for her 16th, and 13 year old only has a DVD player in hers, and won't be getting a telly for the foreseeable future. We have one PC which is in the dining room, and one laptop ( mine from work) which is used in the lounge. If they have friends round, now and again, thwey are allowed to take it upstairs. Both do have IPOD touches, but again these are only recent, and bought out of birthday money off various grandparents, aunts etc, so they can access the internet on these, but I switch it off at 10pm much to eldest's disgust! She has just got a Blackberry so her internet access is now unlimited but she is now almost 17 so I think we've done quite well.

She will get a laptop for her 18th birthday. But they are expensive. It amazes me that people spend that much money on presents for children. It is a BIG present in my opinion, so suitable for BIG birthdays! Plus it'll mean she will have one if she goes away to uni.

hitchins

mintymoneysaver wrote: »

I think it's ridiculous. My daughters are now 16 and 13. They got a TV in one bedroom when eldest was 11, but it was never tuned in so they could only watch DVDs on it! Eldest finally got a 'proper' telly for her 16th, and 13 year old only has a DVD player in hers, and won't be getting a telly for the foreseeable future. We have one PC which is in the dining room, and one laptop ( mine from work) which is used in the lounge. If they have friends round, now and again, thwey are allowed to take it upstairs. Both do have IPOD touches, but again these are only recent, and bought out of birthday money off various grandparents, aunts etc, so they can access the internet on these, but I switch it off at 10pm much to eldest's disgust! She has just got a Blackberry so her internet access is now unlimited but she is now almost 17 so I think we've done quite well.

She will get a laptop for her 18th birthday. But they are expensive. It amazes me that people spend that much money on presents for children. It is a BIG present in my opinion, so suitable for BIG birthdays! Plus it'll mean she will have one if she goes away to uni.

Totally agree! Said friend from previous post, bought youngest an Iphone last Christmas, it was broken within 3 months, aside from that we were more concerned that she'd be mugged carrying around such an expensive phone.

gunsandbanjos

Definitely madness. My DD is nearly 7, we have 1 computer in the house which she uses occasionally. We also have 1 tv in the house, no tv in her bedroom or ours.
I wouldn't allow a child unsupervised internet access:eek:

LillythePink

My dd is almost 11 and has a pc in her room with internet, a tv with dvd (no aerial/sky access), DS, PS2 and an Ipod nano.

The PS2 was bought several years ago for the dance game - she probably only has about 4 games for it and doesn't use it. She has several dvd's which she watches, the ds was for her birthday a year or two ago.

She has only recently had broadband access - but it is restricted with parental controls etc.

She is after a mobile phone - but she has been told no - she doesn't need one and would only abuse it and use the credit for rubbish - saying that, we have a spare phone that we allow her to borrow if she is at her friends or on a bike ride - but we have it back when she gets home.

We have given her these things - it's our choice. It is also about trust we trust her and she is probably a bit too open with us - that will change as she gets older....unfortunately - I will then have to start searching for a diary!! lol

Threebabes

Another one with all the gadgets.

My DS has a tv, ps3, mobile phone, laptop, ipod nano
My DD has a tv, wii, dsi, mobile phone, laptop, ipod nano
My DD (shares a rm with her sister), laptop, dsi, ipod shuffle

The girls mainly watch dvds, none of them have sky tv. If I do say so myself, the 3 of them are quite clever (must take after DH!). In the summer they play out, in the winter not so much. My middle child is off on a school trip tomorrow for the week canoeing, climbing etc no access to tv/internet/games consoles and she can't wait. All their handwriting is fine. All homework gets done and done well. I think its all about compromise. Mine are not the minority of their friends, all of them have these things. They do play on their laptops upstaires, mainly on runescape.

stilernin

I think what we see here is that it isn't about the technology that children own, but why they have items, how they aquired them and the way/how much they are used.

With common sense and appropriate boundaries applied it is great to have all of these modern toys/tools.

esmf73

My children have Nintendo DS each and we have a wii. They can play the wii for max 1 hr a day - normally after 5pm when I'm cooking tea. The DS's are normally reserved for playing with in the car - their choice - which I support. They do not and will not ever have TVs in their room, until they are old enough to buy their own. OH and I have laptops, and the boys have an old broken one, which they use beside my OH. They do not have internet access - if they needed it they would do it with us. I don't agree with schools setting homework which has to be done over the internet - not everyone has access which I think discriminates against those who haven't. I think children should be taught how to use reference books first.

coco1980

my ds is 10 and has a tv and pc in his room, the pc has internet access but my oh is an it manager and has set it up so that we have to ok any website before he can access it, even i cant access any chat rooms , facebook etc from ds's pc, and his tv is linked to dvd player but no aerial so im think its ok as long as you monitor it and the length of time they use them, my ds still chooses to play out rather than sit in front of tv and he also has wii, xbox 360, dsi and he is getting a mobile for his 11th birthday.